Egyptian Jets Overfly Israeli Airspace in Sinai

June 9, 1975

TEL AVIV (Jun. 8)

Two Egyptian Air Force planes penetrated Israeli air spade over Sinai yesterday afternoon, apparently on a reconnaissance flight, it was disclosed today. Israel has lodged a complaint with the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF). The planes came from the direction of the Suez Canal zone between Great Bitter Lake and Lake Timsah. It was the first such incident since the Suez Canal was reopened to navigation last Thursday.

An Egyptian army officer and two soldiers captured by Israeli forces on the night of June 3-4 in the southern section of the Suez Canal zone were returned to Egyptian authorities at noon today, an army spokesman said. The men were apparently on a scouting mission for intelligence purposes. Their mission and today’s overflight seemed to indicate Egyptian attempts to increase intelligence activities in the Israel-held portions of Sinai, sources here said today.

EGYPT AIDS IN BODY IDENTIFICATION

Egypt meanwhile has endeavored to help Israeli authorities identify the bodies of Israeli soldiers killed in the Yom Kippur War whose remains so far have not been positively identified.

In what is regarded here as a gesture of good will, the Egyptians supplied Israel, through the Red Cross, with detailed information on the sites where the bodies of 39 fallen Israeli soldiers were discovered recently by the Egyptians. The remains were returned to Israel last month but only 20 have been identified. The information supplied by the Egyptians may offer some clues to the identity of the others. Egypt, at the same time, has asked for the return of the remains of several score Egyptian soldiers found recently in Israel-controlled areas of Sinai. The bodies are presumed to be those of the victims of a helicopter crash during the early hours of the Yom Kippur War and members of Egyptian commando units sent to infiltrate behind Israeli lines. The bodies had been buried by a sandstorm.